This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7030080.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
UDA won't be pushed on arms deal UDA won't be pushed on arms deal
(4 days later)
The UDA has issued a statement indicating that it will not be pressurised into decommissioning.The UDA has issued a statement indicating that it will not be pressurised into decommissioning.
The group had been given by a deadline to decommission by Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie. The group had been given a deadline to decommission, by Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie.
She had threatened to withdraw £1.2m funding for a loyalist project unless the organisation began decommissioning by 8 October.She had threatened to withdraw £1.2m funding for a loyalist project unless the organisation began decommissioning by 8 October.
The UDA, however, said it has agreed its own timetable for decommissioning with its members.The UDA, however, said it has agreed its own timetable for decommissioning with its members.
Earlier on Friday Ms Ritchie insisted the deadline for UDA weapons decommissioning would stand.Earlier on Friday Ms Ritchie insisted the deadline for UDA weapons decommissioning would stand.
'Extend''Extend'
If they failed to do so, she said, she would withdraw £1.2m funding for a project aimed at helping them move away from violence and criminality.If they failed to do so, she said, she would withdraw £1.2m funding for a project aimed at helping them move away from violence and criminality.
The minister told the UDA they would not get any more time and she would not extend her decommissioning deadline.The minister told the UDA they would not get any more time and she would not extend her decommissioning deadline.
Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Ulster, Ms Ritchie said: "The deadline in respect of UPRG and UDA is very clearly in place, 9 October.Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Ulster, Ms Ritchie said: "The deadline in respect of UPRG and UDA is very clearly in place, 9 October.
"We will be adhering to that deadline. The ball is in the court of the UDA to deliver that peaceful future that the people of Northern Ireland are yearning for."We will be adhering to that deadline. The ball is in the court of the UDA to deliver that peaceful future that the people of Northern Ireland are yearning for.
"The issue is also one where the people of Northern Ireland are saying to me, 'Stand by your position to ensure that we get this peaceful future'.""The issue is also one where the people of Northern Ireland are saying to me, 'Stand by your position to ensure that we get this peaceful future'."